California's deserts -- the high Mojave desert in the north and the low Colorado desert in the south -- are lands of extremes: heat and cold, bright light and deep shadows.

This region is noted for the desert resorts near Palm Springs, Joshua Tree National Park, the Anza-Borrego Desert, Imperial Valley/Colorado River Valley, Mojave National Preserve, the Barstow Area, the Mojave/Ridgecrest Area, and Death Valley.